The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer

Isaiah 37 v 14-20

14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”

   We still today after revival healings, and many other great miracles. They all had humble beginnings, covered in prayers. Matthew 18:20  “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Most prayers start in the heart, someone needs help, and some of them are born out of desperation, and not born out of greed.
   As for our verses, we see a great trouble had beset Hezekiah, the great King, because of the Assyrian invasion, and the imperious attitude of Rabahaketh the captain. ‘Trouble’ has been said to be “A divine diet for the new man”. It is more ‘profitable’ then it is ‘palatable’.

Here are 3 ways ‘The Power of Prayer’ can help, and direction and how simple prayers can overcome your troubles.
1) The Cause of his trouble
It was ‘a letter’, but a veritable one from ‘a messenger of Satan’, sent to buffet him. It is incredible in today’s techno-age one where we look at our ‘in-box’ for our ‘e-mails’ or maybe that of ‘Facebook; ‘Twitter’, or even ‘Instagram’. Yet still, the postman brings those dreaded ‘brown envelopes’, which here in the UK, would have normally meant a bill, or even that long awaited Hospital appointment. Or, deep within the postman’s bag there will be letters that bring warm regards from an old friend or family member. In fact who knows what the next post may herald. This was an attempt to ‘destroy his faith’ in God (v10), to dispossess him of ‘inheritance’, and to bring him into bondage. So much so the enemies of our souls are always active toward the same end. Their letters may be beautifully written, but they are terribly bitter.

2) What he did withit.
“.. he spread it before the Lord ..” (v14)
Because he did this solemn act, it revealed his faith in God. He never spread before the face of Heaven, instead before the face of The Almighty Personality. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6) "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him"
   While all I needed was the beginning of this verse, (as seen above) I reconsidered and included it all. Why this change of mind? Well, you will have to ask God, the next time you talk with His Almighty.
   I’m lead to say that this verse must go to show Gods thoroughness. It also shows that he spread it, he laid the whole matter ~ from the beginning to its end, all in front of Him. So, make sure your definite when you are dealing with God. In other words He wants your honesty, He wants you to be confident, as He wishes you to hold nothing back. Always remember, no matter what ails you, ‘mentally or physically’, He will always be interested, for after all He is our Heavenly Father.

3) How He succeeded
“.. The angel of the Lord..” (v36) ..became his defense. Whilst his argument was one of simplicity, it was also me that was so irresistible as well. “Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the Kingdoms of Earth may that you are Lord" (v20).
   When the Angel of the death spread his wings in the blast. Woe to those who fight the Kingdom of God .. “By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed” (Job 4 v9). The unbelievers will scoff and say; ‘it’s all just mumbo-jumbo; blah blah, or the back sliders will say ‘He never did anything for me/them' etc.
   It causes me much heart ache to hear these words. You see there are a couple of words that must go with ‘pray/prayer’ they are, Faith, you must have faith that your prayers ‘will’ be answered. May be not today, or, maybe not this week, but they ‘will’ be answered. My second word is ‘Believe’, for you must believe in God’s word otherwise what’s the point? So put them together, and with God in the mix everything is possible, I always say “have faith and believe” your prayers ‘WILL’ be answered. Is there any sorrow too great, or, circumstance too perplexing that the prayer cannot bring comfort and deliverance?   N O



“.. if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move;
and nothing will be impossible for you ..”  Math 17 v20

53:110219

Tongues
For Personal Edification

1: Speaking . . . As the Holy spirit
1Corinthians 12:28 “..And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues..”

1 Corinthians 14:1-4+ “..Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men..”

   Spiritual gifts, such speaking in tongues was primary for private times with God. However when speaking in Church, they would usually be followed by these being interpreted, or translated, either literally or by Chapter & verse.

   The speaking with tongues is normally unintelligible unless an interpreting was to immediately follow.(14:2-9-11-16), and so be of no use to the congregation of the Church. That is unless that which is spoken was interpreted as in (14:6-9 &17).

2: Speaking . . . Specific fulfilment of Prophecies of Isaiah & Jesus Christ
Isaiah 28:11 “..For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people..”

   You must be careful when speaking in tongues in public. As it would be easy to make up, just just to make yourself look ‘BIG’, to others whom you wish to impress, self gratifying.
14:21 “..In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord..”

   Not, anyone, can speak in tongues, I know some of you believers strongly feel that the … “stammering lips” is just pure baby ‘gobbledygook’, and how on Earth can this be translated. This gift is so precious only God can tell you one on one in your own home alone, as the message can personal.

   I have witnessed the good and bad. Clearly giving a ‘false-witness’ can and is very dangerous. This ‘false-witness’ is the worst, as it can send a fellow Christian down the wrong path. With every prophesy you must seek confirmation from God via His Word.

3 Speaking . . .Proof of the Resurrection & Glorification
Acts 2:26 “..Therefore my heartActs 2:26d, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope..”

“My heart rejoiced”.  When our heart sings, our whole body sings. When we have a spring in our step, you’ll find people coming up to asking ‘can I have what your on’? Also you’ll find people becoming attracted to you, because of this new found confidence, Now with God in your heart & life, nothing will be impossible to do.

   You may not what your infectious attitude will be to someone you meet briefly, say on a train – bus or just a que in a shop. They may be feeling rock bottom, and just bring a smile to them and make this stranger feeling better. So always be mindful of your attitude toward others as it can break them just as quick as it can lift them.

4: Speaking . . . with Tongues is an evidence of the baptism, or in the filling of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:4 “.. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance..”

   It is a wondrous gift and experience. So it saddens me to say that in some Church’s it is frowned upon, some even go as far as to itr’s ‘demonic’? OK, STOP, to those individuals who say that that they can fake it, I say to those who are spoiling one of Gods most precious gifts, S T O P, because they might as well use pages of the Holy Bible to wipe their behinds with it, God knows who you are, and judge you time.

Acts 10:44-8 “..While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days..”

   It is shown in the Old Testament that only those who were ‘seen to have been called’ even anointed to rejoice the Holy Spirit. Come forward to the teaching of the New Covenant, that everyone can receive the Holy Spirit and speak in Tongues.

5: Speaking . . .Spiritual gift for self-Gratifacation
1 Corinthians 14:4 “..He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church..”
Jude v20   “..But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit..”

   We should completely misunderstand prophecy, should we suppose it’s essence to lie in the prediction of the future. This is not wholly excluded, but it can have a very modest part as with the more important elements found in 1 Corinthians 14. According 14:3 prophecy produces edification – comfort – consolation ... 

“.But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”
… according to V24 it can penetrate so deeply as to lay bare the secrets of strangers, and constrain their inner termoils.

V24/5  “..But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed..”

6: Speaking . . .is a spiritual gift for spiritual edification of the churches
   When moving beyond one’s complete fullness and moving within His Holy Spirit, then you’ll fully understand it’s impact through the life and witness of the church. I can personally say that speaking in tongues is a wonderful feeling. I have heard it said that, because ‘Non-believers’ feel we speak a whole load of ‘made up mumbo-jumbo’, because they can’t say we were speaking ‘German-French-Spanish-Russian’ etc.
1 Corinthians 12:10  “..to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues..”

   Speaking in tongues & interpretations, there of, are gifts of God grace. In the Bible we are shown clearly the teaching of both ‘public & private’, also the exercises and benefits of the gift of speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:4&5 “..There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord..”

7: Speaking . . .is a gift for communicating with god in private
   With such a wondrous gift we make sure NOT to abuse Gods good graces. Be it in your private time of worship, or in public. This can be abused especially those in public whom had at one time had Gods gift, but have no longer Gods graces, and not for some time, so they abuse a once glorious gift.

1 Corinthians 13:2/8  “..And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away..”

   Please be warned, as quick as God bestows His gifts, He can take them away. Speaking from having seen this, it’s truly sad. So don’t squander boast or be flippant with Gods gifts.

The whys and where for of speaking

tongues

1 Corinthians 14:21/2  “..In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe..”
   It was so easily put by Paul, so you see tongues come as a form of confirmation. However the sincere spirit-filled believer will not be preoccupied with this God given gifts for He sees it as, but one of many gifts.

   Finally we must bear in mind that the author & dispenser, or, the one who speaks in tongues and the one who interprets the message. The spirit works only to edify, but only occurs when God is in Church, and thus all things are as the spirit moves freely among the worshipers.